Friends:

Congress quit on the American people this week. 

Instead of staying in Washington to make tough decisions about the budget, taxes, and federal funding, Majority Leaders chose to skip town.  As a result, Fiscal Year 2010 has ended with a $1.3 trillion deficit and Fiscal Year 2011 has begun without a budget plan.  

To make matters worse, nothing has been done to protect taxpayers from the $3.8 trillion tax hike scheduled to take effect in January.  Forty-seven House Democrats joined all Republicans in opposing this massive tax increase, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refused to allow a vote to stop the tax hike.

American families and small business owners deserve better.  They deserve a government that is fiscally responsible, filled with leaders who can sit down, plan a budget and actually stick to it.  More importantly, they deserve a government that doesn’t choose politics over the people’s prosperity. 

It’s time for a new direction in Washington, and House Republicans are determined lead the change.  We’re fighting to immediately implement a new governing agenda that focuses on job creation, ending the spending spree in Washington, and reforming the way Congress does business.  I encourage you to read our Pledge to America by clicking here, and then share your thoughts by taking our new survey.  


Sam Graves
Ranking Member

The House of Representatives has adjourned for the November elections.  As a result, there are no hearings scheduled in the House Small Business Committee.  You can stay up-to-date on the latest Committee schedule by visiting the Committee Calendar on our website, or by following us on Twitter. 

The House is scheduled to return to session on November 15, 2010, at which time Straight Talk will resume its regular Friday publication.  Until then, we will continue to keep you updated on small business news with periodic e-mails.

On Tuesday, the House approved a temporary extension of Small Business Administration (SBA) programs through January 31, 2011.  The legislation (S.3839) is one of several short-term extensions that have been enacted this year while House and Senate Members continue working on a more permanent bill to reauthorize and modernize several SBA programs.

On Wednesday, House Small Business Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) joined House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (R-WA) in co-hosting a Rural America Solutions Group forum on job-killing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.  The forum brought experts from across the country together to provide real-life examples of how these regulations and related legislation have affected their work, families, and communities.  Small Business Committee Members Steve King (R-IA), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) also participated.  To learn more and watch video clips, click here.

On Thursday, the House passed a stopgap funding measure that will fund federal agencies through December 3, 2010.  The legislation, known as a continuing resolution or “CR,” allows Majority Leaders to irresponsibly delay making tough budgetary decisions until after the November elections.  Read more about the CR here.

• National Review: Small Businesses Don’t Want Bailout
• Politico: Boehner: A ‘State of Emergency’
• WSJ: The Regulation Tax Keeps Growing
• Washington Times: Furlough the Feds

• Graves co-hosts EPA forum
• Bartlett working to protect farmers
• Buchanan on Dem tax hike
• Luetkemeyer fights to end TARP
• More Member Highlights…

• New IRS rules for paid tax return preparers
• NFIB health care conference
• NAM comments on 1099 reporting
• U.S. Chamber poll on small biz concerns 
• More news and resources…